<Begin Segment 16>

KL: Were there any big changes in your family's life during camp? Any real significant events, any deaths, any births?

MY: Not in camp, no. Except my cousin died in Manzanar, we knew that by letters.

KL: Yeah, were you able to keep in touch very much with them?

MY: Yes, my parents wrote to the parents, and so we did know when my cousin passed away, and we do know that she suffered so much in Manzanar. She did not want to die at the L.A. County Hospital where they used to send the people who were sick, and so she would not go. And so when the pain became too strong, I know that she would make the radio real loud, the phonograph records real loud of opera music. She loved opera and classical music, and I do know that they used to say that she used to make the music real loud and give herself a shot. And I do know that she passed away in Poston.

KL: In Manzanar?

MY: I mean in Manzanar, yes.

KL: Was she in the hospital at the end of her life, or she was in the barracks?

MY: I think in the barracks. I'm not positive, but I think in her own barracks because otherwise in her hospital, they wouldn't have let her keep a radio or records, would they?

KL: I don't know.

MY: I don't think so, I don't think so. But I do know that she wanted to come home. They did send her to the L.A. County, that's what they did to the very seriously ill people, but she didn't want to stay there, she'd rather die with her family, so she came home.

KL: Was she very close to her parents?

MY: We were close although we didn't see each other that often, we were a close family.

KL: How did her death affect them?

MY: Well, they had no children. Well, I would say that she was the only daughter who died here because the other was in Japan. And they were quite old when they came out, so my mother, who was much younger than my uncle, she had to take of them. I remember my uncle had asthma, and he died. Then after that, we had to take care of his wife, and she lived to be over a hundred. It was very difficult for my mother go over there and wash her clothes, and I remember that I was responsible to take her here and there because I had a car.

KL: Was Reverend Abe part of the Christian church in Manzanar?

MY: I don't know because I wasn't in Manzanar and I really don't know what they did in Manzanar.

KL: Are there any things that stand out that you know about their experience in Manzanar?

MY: No, but there was a Mr. Noda who was very, very close to him.

KL: Close to your uncle?

MY: Uh-huh. And I know that they did a lot for my parents, I mean for Mr. and Mrs. Ervin and Mrs. Abe, because even after the war, they used to come. So I did meet them, but I know they're gone now because I was young yet, and they were already adults.

KL: What did Isamu, or George, how did he leave Manzanar?

MY: Well, I suppose after Ren-san died, but there was a time when we all had to get out of camp.

KL: Yeah, what do you recall, there was a leave questionnaire for women and Issei, and a draft, a modified selective service form for men. Do you remember being issued that questionnaire?

MY: No, because I think I was already out of camp. But my husband was, he was drafted. He did not volunteer for the 442, my brother was also drafted. After many of the soldiers died, they needed these guys. Up 'til then they were 4-Fs or something, but then they became very important to send overseas. So I know my husband was not drafted and neither was my brother, but they all were in the service.

KL: Before... I want to ask you about leaving camp, but before that, are there any people or places or events in Poston that you want to tell us about, other people who stand out?

MY: No. I was just there a year and a few months. I don't know, nothing that I know of.

<End Segment 16> - Copyright © 2014 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.